Performance Chemistry for Cellulose-Based Materials

BEST develops advanced hydrophobic, fire-resistant, and insect-resistant treatments for paper, cork, and agricultural substrates. Engineered at the molecular level for industrial-scale deployment.

Provisional Patent Filed Repulpable Formulations Food-Safe Certification [Pending]
Water droplet beading on hydrophobic treated paper surface, demonstrating contact angle greater than 90 degrees Hero image: treated paper surface

Engineering Sustainable Performance at the Molecular Level

BE Sustainable Technologies, LLC (BEST) is a specialty chemical company focused on surface modification of cellulose-based and natural materials. Our proprietary formulations deliver hydrophobicity, fire retardancy, and biocidal resistance without compromising recyclability or repulpability.

Founded on deep chemistry expertise and backed by provisional patent filings, BEST works directly with paper mills, corrugated manufacturers, and specialty material processors to integrate performance chemistry into existing production workflows with minimal capital modification. Our approach focuses on four complementary mechanisms that work synergistically to achieve durable, scalable surface treatment.

4
Core Mechanisms
7+
Product Lines
>90°
Contact Angle
100%
Repulpable
Microscopic view of treated cellulose fibers showing hydrophobic surface modification
BEST 4R FRAMEWORK

Reduce

Lower chemical loading per unit area through targeted molecular deposition. Less material, greater performance.

Reuse

Treatments engineered for durability under repeated exposure to moisture, handling, and mechanical stress cycles.

Recycle

Fully repulpable formulations. No barrier to existing fiber recovery and recycling infrastructure.

Remarkable

Performance metrics that exceed conventional wax and fluorocarbon alternatives. Measurable. Certifiable. Scalable.

The Science Behind Hydrophobic Cellulose Modification

Our proprietary approach combines four complementary mechanisms to achieve durable, scalable surface treatment of cellulose-based substrates. Each mechanism addresses a distinct aspect of water-substrate interaction.

Mechanism 01

Hydrolyzation

The initial stage involves controlled hydrolysis of precursor compounds in the presence of cellulose hydroxyl groups. This generates reactive silanol intermediates that serve as anchoring points for subsequent surface modification. The hydrolysis rate is carefully tuned through pH control and catalyst selection to ensure uniform distribution across the fiber matrix before condensation proceeds. This step is critical for achieving consistent coverage at the nanometer scale.

Mechanism 02

Physisorption

Following hydrolysis, amphiphilic molecules adsorb onto the cellulose surface via van der Waals forces and hydrogen bonding. This non-covalent interaction layer provides the initial hydrophobic character and serves as a template for the subsequent covalent attachment step. The physisorbed layer achieves contact angles exceeding 90 degrees, establishing the foundational water-repellent behavior. Molecular orientation is driven by thermodynamic self-assembly at the fiber-air interface.

Mechanism 03

Covalent Bonding

The durability of the treatment derives from covalent Si-O-C bonds formed between condensed silanol groups and cellulose hydroxyl sites. This grafting mechanism creates a permanent molecular coating that withstands mechanical abrasion, water immersion, and thermal cycling. Unlike topical coatings, the covalent network becomes an integral part of the fiber surface, maintaining performance through multiple handling and exposure cycles without delamination.

Mechanism 04

Curing

Thermal or ambient curing drives the final cross-linking of the siloxane network, creating an interconnected hydrophobic shell around individual fibers. Curing parameters (temperature, time, humidity) are optimized for integration into existing paper mill drying sections, requiring no additional capital equipment. The cross-linked network exhibits excellent resistance to alkaline and acidic conditions across the pH range encountered in typical industrial and consumer use scenarios.

Chemistry Explainer Video Placeholder for embedded video demonstrating the four-stage treatment process

Engineered Solutions for Specialty Applications

Each product line is formulated for its specific substrate and end-use environment. Click any product for detailed specifications and technical data sheet access.

BEST treated paper showing water beading on surface

The BEST Solution, Paper

  • Hydrophobic barrier for corrugated and containerboard
  • Cobb value reduction of up to 85% vs. untreated substrate
  • Compatible with existing size press and spray bar systems
  • Fully repulpable; no impact on fiber recovery yield
  • Food-safe formulation available [certification pending]
Download Data Sheet
Treated wooden pallet in warehouse environment showing moisture resistance

The BEST Pallet

  • Hydrophobic + insect-resistant treatment for wood pallets
  • Eliminates need for heat treatment in ISPM-15 contexts
  • Extends pallet lifecycle by reducing moisture damage
  • Compatible with dip, spray, and pressure treatment methods
Download Data Sheet
BEST treated corkboard showing water repellency and structural integrity

The BEST Cork

  • Hydrophobic treatment preserving acoustic insulation
  • Fire-retardant additive for enhanced safety rating
  • No degradation of natural cork compression properties
  • Suitable for architectural, industrial, and consumer panels
Download Data Sheet
Treated paper-based flowerpot maintaining structural integrity in wet soil

The BEST Flowerpot

  • Paper/cellulose-based pot with extended wet-strength
  • Maintains structural integrity through growing season
  • Biodegradable end-of-life, plantable construction
  • Replaces plastic nursery containers in horticulture
Download Data Sheet
Agricultural products including weed block fabric and tree skirts in outdoor setting

The BEST Agricultural Products

Weed Block
Tree Skirts
Garden Stakes
  • Cellulose-based alternatives to plastic landscape fabric
  • UV-stabilized hydrophobic treatment for seasonal durability
  • Degrades naturally at end-of-life without microplastic residue
  • Insect-resistant formulation available for tree skirts and stakes
  • Compatible with existing agricultural supply chain packaging
Download Data Sheet

Built by Scientists, Scaled by Operators

Our leadership combines deep formulation chemistry expertise with industrial commercialization experience.

Rich

Founder & CEO

Serial entrepreneur with 20+ years in specialty chemicals and sustainable materials. Identified the market gap for repulpable hydrophobic treatments and assembled the technical team to solve it. Drives strategic partnerships with paper mills and corrugated converters.

Bob

R&D / Chemistry Lead

PhD in Materials Science with focus on surface chemistry and polymer-cellulose interactions. Architect of the four-mechanism treatment platform. Leads formulation development, analytical testing, and IP strategy including provisional patent filings.

Fred

Product / Commercial

15+ years in B2B specialty chemical sales and product management. Deep relationships across the paper and packaging value chain. Responsible for product-market fit, technical sales, and go-to-market execution across all BEST product lines.

Measured Results, Independently Verified

Key performance metrics from third-party testing and internal laboratory analysis. All values below are placeholders pending final report release.

Reduce / Strength

Burst Strength Retention

92
psi (% of untreated baseline)
Source: Axchem Placeholder
Hydrophobicity

Static Contact Angle

>105°
degrees (goniometer measurement)
Source: Smurfit Placeholder
Restricted: Do not share externally
Recycle / Repulpability

Fiber Recovery Rate

98.2%
of treated fiber recovered
Source: Western Michigan University / Smurfit Placeholder
Certification

Recyclability Rating

A+
recyclability classification
Certification body TBD Placeholder
Compliance

Food-Contact Safety

FDA
food-contact compliance [pending]
Testing: Axchem Placeholder
Cork Performance

Acoustic Insulation (NRC)

0.70
noise reduction coefficient
Internal testing Placeholder
Disclaimer: Metrics shown are placeholders for design purposes pending final reports. All values will be replaced with independently verified data before publication. Contact us for the latest available technical data under NDA.

Hydrophobic Cellulose Materials Using Aqueous Based Emulsions

Proprietary formulations combining alkyl ketene dimers and alkoxysilanes for durable, scalable hydrophobic treatment of cellulose-based materials.

Provisional Patent Filed

Hydrophobic Cellulose Materials Using Aqueous Based Emulsions with Alkyl Ketene Dimers and Alkoxysilanes

Technical Field

Preserving & Waterproofing Cellulose Materials

This invention relates to preserving and waterproofing of articles and materials such as wood, drywall, paper, other wood products, fabric, and concrete, to methods for producing hydrophobic materials and products, and particularly to the preparation and use of alkyl ketene dimers (AKD) and silane formulations for such purposes.

Prior Art — Challenge 01

AKD Emulsion Instability

Alkyl Ketene Dimer (AKD) has been used in the paper industry since the 1950s to impart water repellency by chemically reacting with cellulose fibers. However, AKD emulsions have a limited shelf life of only 30–60 days because AKD reacts with water, forming products that no longer react with cellulose. Treatments become less effective in a relatively short time.

Prior Art — Challenge 02

Oligomer Formation in Silane Solutions

Prior art requires alkylalkoxysilanes to be hydrolyzed and diluted in an aqueous medium. The resulting alkylhydroxysilanes have a shelf life of only hours to days due to self-condensation forming oligomers. This limits concentrations to <1% and introduces lengthy preparation time, increased storage requirements, and additional operating personnel—making it restrictive at industrial scale.

The BEST Solution™

Surprisingly Stable AKD + Silane Emulsion

Combining alkylalkoxysilanes and AKD with water and an emulsifier produces a surprisingly stable emulsion. This combination is performed at mild temperatures since AKD melts at relatively low temperatures (40–60°C). Once liquified, AKD readily dissolves into silanes. Emulsification is effectively performed using a sheer blender.

The resulting emulsion is stable for months. The silanes tend to associate with AKD more than with water, inhibiting the formation of oligomers. Synergistically, the silanes also inhibit the degradation of AKD by limiting the hydrolysis reaction of AKD with water. Treatment with the alkylalkoxysilane/AKD emulsion requires a significantly smaller volume to impart hydrophobicity compared to prior art methodology.

Interested in learning more? We offer to host a technical call with our commercial and science team leaders to discuss the technology in detail. Get in touch to schedule a conversation.

Start a Technical Conversation

Whether you need performance data, want to discuss formulation integration, or are evaluating BEST for your production environment, we are ready to connect.

  • technical@besustainabletech.com Placeholder
  • +1 (555) 000-0000 Placeholder
  • Location TBD Placeholder
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